What Makes Me Feel Patriotic as an American?

The only thing I love about the US is the country’s constitution

I love the US Constitution because it is beautiful in its simplicity and concise in its statements. It contains no “exceptions” to the liberties it guarantees. It is open to interpretation, but precise in its statements. And it is premised upon protection of people from State.

The US Constitution is the only thing that makes me feel remotely “patriotic” as an American citizen.

While living abroad, in Europe and India and elsewhere, I remember telling loved ones who asked me if I missed my home country that there were many things I preferred about where I was, but the only thing I missed was the liberty of citizenship guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

I love America. I love it because of its Constitution.

The unconditional rights to freedom of/from religion, press, assembly, petition of my government, possessing and bearing arms, refusal of quartering soldiers, refusal of unreasonable search and seizure, silence, a public trial, excessive bail and torture, and more are why I love America.

Without the US Constitution, I have no particular reason to care about the country of my birth and my citizenship.

With it, I am glad to call myself a patriot.